Studies move outside, where children belong

We spend this week studying mostly outside for a Field Natural History course. The course explores ideas, lessons and activities in the field of science for our future use with students.

The primary reading for my section of the class is the disturbing book, "Last Child in the Woods," by Richard Louv. The book laments the loss of children's exposure to nature and how the severing of the bond with nature hurts their development.

Louv describes how we have moved from the days of children playing outside and exploring gulleys, woods and fields to children now restricted from those places or wedded to video games, computers or structured activities.He cites a survey of mothers that found 71 percent recalled playing outdoors every day as children, but only 26 percent of them said their kids play outside daily.

Louv describes how we have moved from the days of children playing outside and exploring gulleys, woods and fields to ones of children now restricted from those places or wedded to video games, computers or structured activities.He cites a survey of mothers that found 71 percent recalled playing outdoors every day as children, but only 26 percent of them said their kids play outside daily.

The book offers a host of ideas for countering the trend for families, schools and businesses.

New York Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof writes from the flanks of Mount Hood this week about the disturbing trend and Louv's book in a column provocatively titled, "How to Lick a Slug."

The course marks the next step toward completing work for the master or arts in teaching at Lewis & Clark. Last week, we finished courses on child development, social history and ethics of education, and arts and creativity. The week before, we wrapped up on a course on science for elementary students.